Join us on a nostalgic journey through the world of discontinued foods that once delighted our taste buds! From fast food favorites to breakfast cereals, we'll explore the most memorable treats that have vanished from store shelves, leaving us craving just one more bite of these legendary snacks.
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00:00Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're counting down our picks for beloved foods that have
00:09unfortunately been lost to time.
00:21Number 30.
00:22Onion Nuggets.
00:23Change can be a hard pill to swallow, even when it comes to something as small as the
00:27shape of your food.
00:28During the 1970s, McDonald's tried to put a spin on the classic onion ring with their
00:32own creation, Onion Nuggets.
00:34The perfectly bite-sized morsels were an interesting deviation from their usual options, but they
00:38unfortunately were not enough to hold the public's interest.
00:41They were quickly overshadowed by the introduction of McNuggets to the menu, which immediately
00:46became a fan favorite.
00:47Before long, the onion variation had been phased out and was eventually quietly discontinued.
01:05Although it may not have been the most lucrative, the concept sounds so delicious that we can't
01:10help but feel robbed of them.
01:21Number 29.
01:22Taco Supreme Doritos
01:29When it comes to brand partnerships, no one does it better.
01:32There are several Doritos-infused items on the Taco Bell menu available to buy today,
01:37but their collaborations go back much further.
01:40Their first joint product dates all the way back to the 1990s, with Taco Supreme Doritos.
01:45The chips were made with a signature flavoring to get the exact same taste as the iconic
01:49Mexican chain, making it one of the most daring to be released at that time.
01:53It was unfortunately retired less than a decade later following PepsiCo's divestment from
01:57the brand.
01:58A similar taco flavor was introduced soon afterwards, but it simply wasn't the same.
02:03And to this day, people are petitioning to have it return.
02:16Number 28.
02:17Pop-Tarts Crunch
02:24Some foods sound so good that it's hard to believe they ever existed at all.
02:28While regular Pop-Tarts were already great on their own, they were elevated to an even
02:32higher level in 1994 when they were released in cereal form.
02:35They were inspired by a trend where consumers would break up the pastries and eat them with
02:39milk.
02:40And the final product did not disappoint.
02:43Available in strawberry or brown sugar cinnamon with filling in the center, the breakfast
02:46item was the definition of rich.
02:48It was an ingenious idea, but it only lasted for about a year before ultimately being pulled
02:53from their line.
02:54It goes to show that a trend's supposed popularity can burn as easily as it pops.
03:05Number 27.
03:06Whopperito
03:15With just one item, countless people's decision fatigue was relieved.
03:19If you think the combination of a Whopper and a Burrito sounds insane, you'd be right.
03:24But that doesn't make the execution any less delicious.
03:26In 2016, Burger King came out with one of their most bizarre creations yet, the Whopperito.
03:32Consisting of all the classic elements of the burger and plenty of queso wrapped in
03:36a perfectly cooked tortilla, it was the very definition of decadence.
03:49It ended up being a hit, leading to it being introduced nationwide and earning the respect
03:54of food critics and customers alike.
03:55Unfortunately, it was a limited-time item, meaning despite its popularity, by the end
04:00of the year, it had completely vanished.
04:12Number 26.
04:13Triple Decaroni Pizza
04:21Could there possibly be a thing as too much pizza?
04:24Pizza Hut certainly doesn't seem to think so, and we agree.
04:27In 1996, they came out with one of their most insane items to date, a multi-layered pizza
04:32with six different cheeses inside.
04:34The concoction is the peak of indulgence, and sounds almost too good to be true.
04:45Though it appeared to be enjoyed by consumers, it still disappeared from their menu just
04:49a few years later.
04:50But it wouldn't be the only time they've removed a fan favorite.
04:53The beloved Pizzone was only brought out of retirement for a short period before disappearing
04:57once more.
04:58To this day, some people are holding out hope that the Decaroni will make a comeback as
05:02well.
05:11Number 25.
05:12C-3PO's Cereal
05:20Given how popular the Star Wars franchise was throughout the 1980s, it only makes sense
05:25that they'd release as many branded products associated with it as possible.
05:29They came out with plenty of toys and trading cards, but they didn't stop there.
05:33In 1984, C-3PO's, a cereal inspired by the iconic droid, hit the market.
05:43They were shaped like two rings fused together, giving it a bit of extra crunch.
05:47It was a unique idea, but unfortunately, nothing gold can stay.
05:51Just a couple of years later, the promotion between the company and the film ended, and
05:54C-3PO's went with it.
05:56The product was rebranded to Pro-Grain and marketed as a sports food.
06:00It's just as well, 3PO isn't exactly athletic.
06:12Number 24.
06:14Lifesaver Holes
06:24Some concepts are so silly that they loop back around to being genius.
06:28Lifesavers have come in standard ring shape, with a space in the middle.
06:31In 1990, they shook things up with the release of Lifesaver Holes, a tiny fruit-flavored
06:36sphere that filled in the original shape.
06:38It was the perfect tongue-in-cheek creation, and when they were first released, they seemed
06:45to be popular.
06:46However, they were gone just as soon as they arrived.
06:49The tube they came in was found to be a choking hazard, leading to the business pulling the
06:53product before anyone could be hurt or worse.
06:56Even though it's understandable, some are hoping that they'll get another chance with
06:59different packaging.
07:04Number 23.
07:05PB Crisps
07:11You know a snack is good when there are websites dedicated to its potential return decades
07:16after they stopped being made.
07:17Made by planters in 1992, PB Crisps were essentially a peanut-shaped graham cracker stuffed with
07:23delicious fillings, such as chocolate, strawberry, and peanut butter.
07:27Not much is known about why this delicious snack was suddenly ripped away from consumers
07:31in 1995, but it hasn't stopped some superfans from trying to convince the company to bring
07:35them back.
07:36There's even a whole online movement spanning across multiple social media sites dedicated
07:40to advocating for its return.
07:42There haven't been any updates so far, but that hasn't dampened their spirits whatsoever.
07:47If that's not dedication, we don't know what is.
07:50Number 22.
07:52Flintstones Push-Up Pops
07:58Although a couple of cereals inspired by them still exist today, at one point, the Flintstones
08:03had an undeniable chokehold on pop culture.
08:06This extended to other cereals, such as the now-defunct marshmallow variety Dino Pebbles.
08:11But there were other foods as well, with one of the most popular being their ice cream
08:15push-up pops.
08:16Each flavor was inspired by the beloved characters, such as Cave Kid Cherry and Bedrock Berry.
08:21Some variations even had candy embedded in them.
08:29After a few years, the characters were eventually dropped from the branding.
08:33And even though the popsicles themselves still exist, they don't have any of the nostalgia.
08:37It's proof of how powerful branding can be, and how attached people can become to it.
08:42Number 21.
08:49Peanut Butter Boppers
08:57A snack this delicious is simply too powerful to remain on grocery store shelves permanently.
09:02Peanut Butter Boppers were a dream made of smooth peanut butter rolled in crunchy toppings.
09:07They were introduced in 1985 and quickly found a following, leading to new flavors being
09:12Despite having captured the hearts of so many, they unfortunately didn't make it to the end
09:16of the decade.
09:18The reasons for their discontinuation haven't been revealed, but their disappearance hasn't
09:22stopped fans from loving them.
09:27There have been several copycat recipes published, offering customers a chance to recreate their
09:31favorite childhood snack themselves.
09:33In 2023, General Mills even acknowledged that consumers missed the product, and to this
09:38day, many are hoping that they will bop back.
09:41The original flavors were Fudge Chip, Honey Crisp, and Peanut Crunch.
09:45And in June of 1986, Boppers added Fudge Graham and Cookie Crunch to the lineup.
09:49Number 20.
09:50McDonald's Fried Apple Pie
09:56While this item still exists in spirit, it doesn't hold a candle to the original.
10:01In 1968, McDonald's changed the game with the release of their Fried Apple Pies.
10:05They made for the perfect end to each meal there, and for decades, they were sold as
10:10is.
10:11But everything changed in 1992 when the chain decided to switch up the cooking method.
10:16Rather than frying them, they opted to bake them instead, with the hopes of being healthier.
10:20It's unclear how much of a difference there was in terms of health, but the contrast in
10:25their taste definitely stands out.
10:27Since then, the pies have never been the same, and there are multiple generations of people
10:32who will probably never get to try them.
10:34Number 19.
10:35Burger King's Cinny Minis
10:41An idea this good should have always been a permanent fixture.
10:45Although they're mostly known for their savory items, in 1998, Burger King teamed up with
10:50Pillsbury to create a dessert.
10:52The Cinny Minis, a line of tiny cinnamon rolls, were baked fresh daily.
10:56They ended up being a hit, and remained on the menu for nearly 15 years before suddenly
11:01vanishing in 2012.
11:03Fans did not take that choice lying down.
11:06Petitions advocating for its return began circulating, showing widespread support for
11:10the defunct breakfast item.
11:11It seems there's a potential end to their wait.
11:14They were brought back for a limited time in Florida in late 2024.
11:18If they test well there, they could potentially return on a national level as well.
11:29Number 18.
11:30Ice Cream Cone Cereal
11:32Sugar-loaded cereals are like crack for kids, so it's only natural that the sickeningly
11:36sweet brands are the ones we're going to remember most fondly.
11:40Case in point, Ice Cream Cone Cereal.
11:42Sold by General Mills in the late 80s when companies were not even bothering to pretend
11:46that the cereal they were peddling was healthy, Ice Cream Cones consisted of puffed sweet
11:50treats that tasted like your favorite flavors of ice cream – chocolate chip, vanilla,
11:55and chocolate.
11:56Little golden sugar cone-shaped triangles stood in for the cones to complete the visual
12:00effect.
12:01They only lasted a year in their original run, though it was brought back for a one-time
12:05deal in 2003 for the Ice Cream Cone's 100th anniversary, and General Mills introduced
12:10Drumstick Cereal in 2019.
12:12But 1987 was still the sweetest year of them all.
12:16Number 17.
12:17Cheetos Twisted
12:18It may seem as if there's a new flavor of Cheetos available every week, so you'd
12:28be forgiven if you didn't notice that Cheetos Twisted no longer exist.
12:34These curly-Q-shaped Cheetos snacks were thicker, meaning more of that finger-staining cheese
12:39dust to coat your fingers.
12:40They also arrived armed with that patented Cheetos crunch, and were available from around
12:452002 to 2012.
12:48All good things must eventually come to an end.
12:51The Cheetos folks discontinued their twisted brand, but never fear because the company
12:55is bound to create something similar down the line.
13:00Number 16.
13:01McDonald's Arch Deluxe
13:03The Arch Deluxe was a deluxe flop.
13:08McDonald's had been growing a reputation as a restaurant for children, and they created
13:12the Arch Deluxe to combat this notion.
13:15Designed specifically for adults, it contained a quarter-pound burger with all the typical
13:19toppings, plus a special sauce mixed from mustard and mayonnaise.
13:26The chain launched a massive marketing campaign to promote the burger, and released it nationwide
13:30in the spring of 1996.
13:33Unfortunately, it proved an enormous bomb, owing to its premium price and high caloric
13:39count.
13:45After $300 million spent in research, development, and marketing, McDonald's discontinued the
13:50Arch Deluxe in August of 2000.
13:56Number 15.
13:57Shake'Em Up Fries
13:58It's amazing what fast food companies will do to capture the attention of children.
14:03Take some standard fries, add a packet of flavoring, and bam, Shake'Em Up Fries.
14:07Thanks for your money.
14:19Back in 2002, Burger King introduced this item, which was essentially fries with a packet
14:23of cheese powder that allowed kids to make the so-called cheesy fries.
14:27It was a fun little novelty, but not much else.
14:30And like most novelties, the fun quickly wore off, and the Shake'Em Up Fries were discontinued
14:35as quickly as they appeared.
14:38They now exist solely in the nostalgic recesses of 90s kids everywhere.
14:42Number 14.
14:43The Dairy Queen Breeze
14:51The Blizzard is a Dairy Queen mainstay, and has remained as such since its introduction
14:56in 1985.
14:57The company sold 100 million Blizzards in its first year alone, and people continuously
15:03flocked to the chain to get their hands on the soft-serve treat.
15:15Five years after its inception, Dairy Queen attempted a low-calorie frozen yogurt alternative
15:20called the Breeze, which was said to have 10 fewer calories per ounce.
15:32The Breeze lasted over a decade, but never reached the cultural heights of its denser
15:37predecessor, and was discontinued in 2001 owing to a lack of demand.
15:42Number 13.
15:43Volcano Burrito
15:44Introduced in 1995 as a tie-in to the movie Congo, the Volcano Burrito came equipped with
15:50the standard ground beef, shredded cheese, rice, red tortilla strips, and a special lava
15:56sauce.
16:06It disappeared following the promotion, but was brought back in the spring of 2009, where
16:11it was placed on the so-called Volcano Menu, alongside the Volcano Taco.
16:21It was a very popular item, and even to this day people are trying to replicate the delicious
16:26lava sauce at home.
16:28Unfortunately, the Volcano Menu was scrapped in 2012, and the Volcano Burrito disappeared
16:33the following year.
16:37That said, it can reportedly still be found in Britain, South Korea, and Iceland.
16:43Number 12.
16:44S'mores Grahams
16:45A.K.A.
16:46S'mores Crunch
16:47Ice cream is great, but maybe you gravitated more towards the serialized, deconstructed
16:52version of this late-night camping fireside snack.
16:55General Mills has shrunk down many a treat over the years.
16:58Some have stood the test of time like Cinnamon Toast Crunch, while others like French Toast
17:02Crunch were discontinued, only to be revived due to popular demand.
17:07Sadly, this particular offering, which boldly threw marshmallows into the mix without even
17:12bothering to disguise them as something else, is no longer available.
17:16It ran from 1982 to 1988 and was briefly brought back in the 90s, only to get the axe again.
17:24Number 11.
17:25Yogos
17:26Parents will often do just about anything to get their kids to eat healthy, but even the
17:39busiest folks have their limits.
17:41Yogos weren't trying to masquerade as healthy fruit or yogurt, but instead were sugary fruit
17:47snacks with a yogurt coating on top.
17:48They were an acquired taste to say the least, but millennials were on that taste back when
17:53they were kids, as Yogos seemed to be on top between 2005 and the beginning of the 2010s.
17:59Chewy, sweet, sour, and available in varieties of berry flavors, Yogos were perhaps too unique
18:06for this world, and burned so bright that they could never be brought back.
18:17Number 10.
18:18Philadelphia Cheesecake Snack Bars
18:19Hey, ever think to yourself, I've been good.
18:23Why shouldn't I have cheesecake for a snack?
18:27No, it was just us?
18:34Yeah well, we have no regrets about devouring this indulgent snack from the Philadelphia
18:38people.
18:39Small, snack-sized cheesecake squares available to eat any hour of the day.
18:44You want the graham cracker bottom?
18:46You get the graham cracker bottom.
18:48You want sweet icing and fruit laced over that thick cheesecake deliciousness?
18:52Shut the front door and eat these slices of heaven in private because we guarantee you're
18:56gonna have a moment.
18:57We can only hope and pray that the next time we stroll by our grocer's freezer, this
19:02classic snack will be staring back at us.
19:12Number 9.
19:13Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle Cereal
19:14Yes, General Mills has released a modern TMNT-themed cereal inspired by the animated Nickelodeon
19:20series, but that is not the cereal we want.
19:23This show, as well as the contemporary live-action films, may resonate with the youth, but we're
19:28here in the name of nostalgia, and for 80s and 90s kids, few properties hit the mark
19:32like our favorite heroes in a half-shell.
19:35Featuring our beloved animated crime fighters on the box, this cereal, true to its namesake,
19:39is an odd hybrid that combines a base cereal similar to Chex with Lucky Charm-style marshmallows.
19:45And you know what?
19:46It was totally awesome.
19:53Number 8.
19:54Hershey's Bites
19:58The Hershey's company has so many delicious snacks under their belt, it's easy to forget
20:03that there's also plenty of forgotten classics.
20:08Hershey's Swoops were one, but the penultimate spot on our list goes to the much-missed Hershey's
20:14Bites.
20:15No, not the Candy Bites, but this even crunchier and more snackable concoction that came in
20:20a variety of flavors.
20:23Rolos, Kit Kats, Peppermint Patties, and more were all shrunk down and packaged in a size
20:35that was perfectly geared for guzzling.
20:37Unfortunately, they posed a choking hazard for some, and most of the line was discontinued.
20:43However, Hershey's website does say that limited flavors can be purchased direct, but
20:48don't go scouring store shelves for this one.
20:51Number 7.
20:52Cap'n Crunch's Oops!
20:53Choco Donuts
20:54It's a thin line that companies need to walk when trying to market cereal based on
20:58baked goods to kids.
21:00Parents can seemingly accept sweet treat-based products, as long as they're inspired by
21:05breakfast dishes like French Toast or Cinnamon Toast.
21:07But when the concept is something like ice cream, or as is the case here, donuts, it's
21:12a little harder to swallow.
21:13Parents be damned, though.
21:15These were awesome.
21:16With the familiar face of Cap'n Crunch on the box, these chocolate cereal rings garnished
21:20with sprinkles were a home run with the kids.
21:23Sadly, they were also too good for this world, and were discontinued.
21:28Number 6.
21:29Keebler Magic Middles
21:38If there were ever a snack cookie king, this was the one.
21:42The mighty Keebler elves truly outdid themselves when they magically concocted the recipe for
21:47the perfect treat.
21:58The shortbread wasn't too sweet, and held its integrity against that chocolatey or peanut
22:02buttery flavor core that burst onto your taste buds with the force of a fudgy freight train.
22:08Oh, and if you warmed these bad boys in the microwave for a few seconds?
22:12Absolute heaven.
22:13We're not sure if we can go all the way to the top of the Keebler elf hierarchy for
22:17some answers, but we are desperate for Magic Middles to be made available again.
22:26Number 5.
22:27Bell Beefer
22:28Serving as Taco Bell's answer to hamburger joints, the Bell Beefer was a sloppy Joe-like
22:32burger with ground beef, onions, lettuce, and a special sauce.
22:36Nothing fancy, but it certainly gets the job done.
22:39Introduced in the 60s as the Chili Burger, the Bell Beefer enjoyed initial success, but
22:43quickly fell by the wayside.
22:45It just sorta stuck around for a while, not popular enough to be a bestseller, but not
22:49poor enough to be cut from the menu.
22:51But when Taco Bell transitioned to the Tex-Mex style in the late 80s and early 90s, the Bell
22:56Beefer finally got the boot.
22:58It made a brief resurgence in 2012 as part of the dollar menu, but this too has disappeared.
23:04Number 4.
23:05Waffle Taco
23:06Taco Bell wanted to get in on the breakfast market, and their first order of business
23:10was the Waffle Taco, consisting of a folded waffle, bacon or sausage, scrambled eggs,
23:21and a drizzle of syrup.
23:22The Waffle Taco was a truly bizarre concoction, even for those used to silly fast-food novelties.
23:28Unfortunately, it didn't look good from the outset, with Chief Marketing Officer Chris
23:43Brandt ambiguously stating, quote, some of the things on our menu might run out of gas.
23:48That proved to be the case, as the Waffle Taco was discontinued just one year after
23:52its inception, having been replaced with the Biscuit Taco.
23:56Number 3.
23:57Enchirito
23:58The source of Taco Bell's Enchirito remains disputed, with various franchise owners and
24:03even a high school student from Montebello receiving credit.
24:11The Enchirito appeared in the 60s, when one could buy an Enchirito, a taco and a drink
24:15for $0.89, which is about $7 today.
24:19It was composed of a tortilla, ground beef, beans, onions, and cheese.
24:25It was officially discontinued in 1993, but brought back later that decade following intense
24:30demand.
24:31Unfortunately, it was once again taken off the menu in 2013, and has remained off ever
24:36since.
24:37With that said, customers can reportedly still order one owing to its traditional ingredients
24:42and easy construction.
24:44Number 2.
24:45Burger King Ribs
24:46Ribs were the last thing people expected from a fast-food joint like Burger King, and it
24:50was this novelty that made them a phenomenon.
24:53Back in May of 2010, Burger King introduced racks of ribs to their menu, charging customers
24:58$8.99 to get their hands on the smoky goodness.
25:06And while some balked at the premium price, others flocked to their local franchise to
25:10give them a try.
25:11In fact, the promotion proved so successful that they were forced to cut it short owing
25:15to a lack of product.
25:17Ravenous customers had eaten their entire supply, but despite the obvious demand, the
25:22ribs have never been brought back.
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25:41Number 1 – McPizza
25:53There once was a time when you could order pizza from an everyday McDonald's.
25:57Introduced in the 80s, the McPizza, as it was creatively called, was instantly mocked
26:02by consumers and competitors alike, with Pizza Hut even calling it the McFrozen.
26:12And, while it proved to be a somewhat popular novelty item, it was never really able to
26:18shed its reputation, and it was permanently pulled from the menu in the late 90s.
26:22McDonald's claims that the McPizza was discontinued owing to its long cook times, as each pizza
26:27took upwards of 10 minutes to make.
26:29Talk about a drive-thru clogger.
26:32However, those willing to make a trip to Orlando, Florida will find the last McDonald's in
26:39the world still serving the McPizza.
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